New highway guidelines

Press, 9 October 1980, Page 26

New highway guidelines

Wellington reporter New guidelines, including a requirement for environmental impact as.sessments,' have been drawn up to cover State ’ Highway developmen t in -national. parks and allied reserved. , The guidelines announced by the Minister of Lands (Mr V. S. Young) ,and the Minister of Works and Development (Mr W. L. Young), try to reconcile possible conflict between ■the transport role of highways, and their possible detrimental effect on national parks and reserves. New reading proposals must now be agreed on by the National Roads Board agencies and the bodies administering parks and reserves.

Environmental impact assessments will now be required for any new development, reconstruction, or improvement of highways. These assessments must describe the aims of the reading, as

well as dealing with the probable effects on ecological processes, landscape values, national park or reserve values, and on the management plan for the national park or reserve. The Ministers said that any roading through natiqnal parks and allied reserves would be planned and designed to ensure that it did not place undue stress on the park, was in harmony with the landscape and other values, and did not have an adverse effect on flora, fauna, or ecological processes. ’ Where highway improvements are . planned they will be designed to be compatible with the national park or reserve they pass through. Parking spaces will be provided at suitable places. Particular attention will be paid to preserving native vegetation and, where maintenance or restoration work is done, native plants will be planted.